Bartavelle Cafe has been operating out of its prep kitchen since its lease ended at the start of the pandemic. After searching the Bay Area for restaurant space, co-owners Sam Sobolewski and Suzanne Drexhage have found the eatery a new home. The two have signed a lease for 1621 San Pablo Ave, a neighboring spot that was previously home to Berkeley Stereo.
Sobolewski tells What Now San Francisco that Bartavelle will keep the prep kitchen at 1609 San Pablo Avenue, but begin serving its seasonal breakfast and lunch menu, Heart Roasters coffee, and pastries by Nellie Stark at the new address. He also shares that the space will allow for the return of Bartavelle’s nighttime alter ego, the wine bar Bar Sardine — for which a business license was recently granted by the City of Berkeley.
Sobolewski describes Bartavelle as a full-service cafe that’s equally focused on its seasonal food menu and its coffee and wine offerings. The menu consists of salads and seasonal specials like the Yellow Eye Bean Stew in winter months — made with “Ranch Gordo beans, tomatoes, kale, garlic, EVOO, rosemary, some chilis, croutons, and pecorino” — and plates like tomato tartine in the summer.
Sobolewski and Drexhage plan to have the new location up and running by March 2023.
